Stereotypes Of Women In Sports

Both men and women from all over the world play sports. However, many of the women play as a hobby, but not as a profession. Women’s sports aren’t as popular as men’s sports, due to the lack of attention from the media as well as the few product endorsements and the negative idea that not all sports should be played by women. Society does not have high enough expectations for women athletes, which is why women athletes don’t receive the same amount of opportunities or have the same image as male athletes. Society should have higher expectations, so female athletes will be viewed differently. Society’s lack of expectations results in female athletes being under the shadows of male athletes. This image of this can promote a negative idea
toward the younger crowd. When watching television “in 2004, 6.3 percent of the shows' airtime was about women's sports. In 1999, it was 8.7 percent;” while nowadays “96.3 percent of the shows' airtime was taken up by men's sports while only 1.6 percent of the shows were about women's sports” (Bowen 1). It is shown that female athletes receive very little attention from the media, as only “TV sports shows are covering women's sports less than ever” (Bowen 1). Since many believe women shouldn’t play sports professionally due to the idea of being too masculine, society has little expectations for female athletes to become as popular as men sports. This can cause a negative idea to younger girls, that playing sports is too masculine and only men should play professionally. It is through higher expectations, where female athletes will have the chance to “promote physical activity and involvement in sports, confidence, a strong work ethic, and emphasizing the importance of education” (“What Are the Benefits”1) which can benefit the younger girls. It is important for all younger girls to continue their passion for sports and to have confidence with a healthy and more muscular body. Society’s higher expectations can help make women athletes will be a more familiar face, which will have a positive effect to the younger crowd. Society’s lower expectations and inequality towards female athletes creates a negative image that only “males are the dominate figure in sports”( “How the Media Portrays Female Athletes”1).
This could lead to a negative effect, as female athletes don’t receive the same equality or have the same amount of opportunities. However, with higher expectations and more female athletes under the spotlight, female athletes will be more motivated to be involved, as well as “play and represent all women all around the world on a daily basis… have a voice”(Block 4). This gives women the same equality as men and to have a voice in the general public. The higher expectations will stop the negative image and create a positive image of empowering women equality and that women deserve the same amount of opportunities and
attention. Some may say higher expectations aren’t needed to affect women athletes or the image, due to the idea of women not being meant to play more masculine sports.
However, higher expectations can lead to female athletes bringing positive energy to young girls’ lives and empowering women equality. When the general public only has expectations for male athletes, “young boys grow up watching television bombarded with heroic images of male athletes. They have something to look up to, while young girls don’t receive the same images” (“How the Media Portrays Female Athletes”1). Younger girls see this as women not having the same amount of equality as men and that women aren’t as important. As a result, many would stop following their dream of playing a sport professionally and lose their confidence. Therefore, society having higher expectations to make female athletes as recognizable as male athletes is important. All in all, female athletes don’t have the same attention or the same opportunities as male athletes. The lack of expectations to female athletes, decrease the amount of motivation and the amount of opportunities. However, higher standards towards female athletes will motivate them more to continue doing what they're passionate about, while being more involved in the public eye. Society’s higher expectations to female athletes has many benefits like empowering women equality and promoting positivity into the atmosphere, while being a role model to younger
girls.